adv · noun · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/əˈɹɪə/
General-American:/əˈɹɪɹ/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪə(ɹ)
1
adv
Meaning 1
Towards the rear, backwards.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adv
Meaning 2
Behind time; overdue.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
Work to be done, obligation.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
November 4, 1866, James David Forbes, letter to E. C. Batten I have a large arrear of letters to write.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Unpaid debt.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
fall into arrears
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
That which is in the rear or behind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
From Middle English arere, from Old French arere, from Vulgar Latin *ad retro (literally “to the rear”).
Across languages
Translations
49 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Czech:
rest
— work to be done
Dutch:
achterstand
— work to be done
Finnish:
rästi
— work to be done
Finnish:
rästityö
— work to be done
Finnish:
tekemätön työ
— work to be done
French:
arriéré
— work to be done
Hungarian:
elmaradás
— work to be done
Hungarian:
lemaradás
— work to be done
Hungarian:
restancia
— work to be done
Italian:
arretrato
— work to be done
Polish:
zaległości
— work to be done
Russian:
обязанность
(objazannostʹ)
— work to be done